Yom Ha'Atzma'ut will be rather painful this year, especially for those of us fortunate enough to live in Israel.

I am not looking forward to Yom Ha'Atzma'ut this year. It will be rather painful, especially for those of us fortunate enough to live in Israel.

It is not only that celebrations in the midst of a bloody battle against terrorism will make the day so difficult. Rather, it is the persistence of delusion, the continuing inability of those who urged Israeli to give arms and land to the enemy at our gates, to admit their mistake. And they are still at it: still blaming Israel for the present situation, still expressing understanding for Palestinian brutality, still urging Israel to give away more territory in order to appease the hungry lion, still pointing fingers at everyone - the "settlers," the right-wing, the Orthodox - everyone but themselves.

And there is a second source of distress, related to the first. The collapse of Oslo has been marked by intensified incitement against Jews around the world. Beyond the immediate threat to Jewish security, this, too, marks the collapse of one of the major ideological underpinnings of secular Zionism; that once we have our own homeland, flag and army, we will become a normalized people; that anti-Semitism will cease, because we will then be no different from anyone else.

The Yom Ha'Atzma'ut speeches will ignore the new reality of our times, and will gloss over the bankruptcy of the modern Zionist ideology. The new reality is that the State of Israel has become the contemporary counterpart of the old European Jewish shtetl. In Europe, the thugs of the region, in complicity with the authorities, would incite pogroms against the Jews; and today, so-called civilized nations, with the complicity of world authorities like the United Nations and the European Union, vilify and demonize the Jewish state and stand idly by as bombings and murders are committed upon its people by the neighborhood thugs.

(Interesting how the world clucks its mild disapproval of suicide bombers who kill innocent Jews at random, but then mobilizes all its wrath against the Israelis who move into the areas which house those terrorists.)

Nothing much has changed. Once upon a time the world wished there were no Jews; today it wishes there were no Jewish state. The rallying cry used to be: "Jews go to Palestine"; now it is "Jews out of Palestine." How ironic that Western Jewish youth groups will visit Auschwitz this spring in perfect safety, but will avoid Israel because of the supposed security risks.

* * *

But why should we point fingers at the delusions of others when we ourselves, both in and out of Israel, religious and non-religious, also find it so difficult to change our ways -- not our political ways, but our spiritual ways? We are quick to point at others, but perhaps we share some blame for our current situation.

Even Jews who like to call themselves religious, who observe the mitzvot, are not yet fully aware that the present Jewish predicament is a wakeup call to all of us -- a reminder that it is time to begin to reach out to God in a much more serious fashion. If we continue blithely along our normal routine; if we maintain our status quo with the One Above; if our prayers to Him are as perfunctory and mechanical as they always have been; if our consciousness as Jews has not intensified; if our relationship to our Torah has remained static; if we have not once said an urgent personal prayer or passionately read a chapter of Psalms -- if, in a word, this crisis has not affected our Jewishness, then in what way are we better than the supporters of Ararat who also find it difficult to change their ways?

The ability to change course, to acknowledge errors, is the true sign of a mature person. What better time for this than now, when the Jewish people are in crisis, not only in the State but throughout the world? Beyond the current difficulties in Israel, we face alarming rates of assimilation and intermarriage throughout the world, plus abysmal levels of Jewish ignorance and illiteracy, coupled with the recrudescence of anti-Semitism.

We cannot simply sit idly by, but yet are not sure what we can do to help. Of course, we can continue to support Israel in the various lands in which we live; we can resolutely visit the State; we can help her financially and emotionally; we can support intensive Jewish education for young and old.

But one vital aspect of our Jewishness must not be overlooked: the need for a bit of personal introspection. God is tapping us on the shoulder and reminding us that He is still our Creator. There are a number of things we can do:

- Reach out with sincerity to our fellow human beings by increasing the level of our tzedakah-giving, and our acts of kindness. - Reach out to God through genuine, heartfelt prayer.
- Intensify our devotion to Torah study and practice.
- Begin working on ourselves to become better Jews and better human beings.
Change is never easy, but a small beginning can be made.

* * *

I began by saying that we are fortunate to be living in Israel right now. At a time when daily security is an issue, when few people are visiting Israel, when even pro-Jewish groups are canceling scheduled trips for themselves and their young people, it must seem strange to consider oneself fortunate to be here during such times.

But in a profound sense this is so. For one does not always have a chance to be an eyewitness to history as it unfolds before our very eyes. Yes, we ache when we hear the almost daily reports of bombings and murders, and we listen anxiously to every newscast. Yes, we worry when our youngsters leave for school in the morning. And we choose carefully the places where we shop, or eat, or travel, lest we encounter a murderer whose religion teaches him that the quickest ticket to his heaven lies in his ability to murder as many children of Abraham as possible.

But we are fortunate to suffer with the Land of Israel within the Land of Israel and not from the outside. Living here in these times, one feels connected with the people Israel horizontally -- across the world today, and vertically -- through Jewish history past, present and future. Jewish suffering is not just an abstraction; it becomes our suffering. Jewish triumph becomes our triumph. Jewish destiny becomes our destiny.

The Talmud reminds us that "Whoever mourns for Jerusalem will be worthy to witness her jubilation" (Baba Batra 60b; Taanit 30b). We are, then, in a deeply spiritual sense, the fortunate ones: living in the Holy Land during her time of travail, we are assured that we will also be found worthy enough to witness her jubilation. And this is no delusion.

This thought makes it possible to bear the painful aspects of this Yom Ha'Atzma'ut.

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About the Author

Rabbi Emanuel Feldman is Rabbi Emeritus of Congregation Beth Jacob where he was Rabbi from 1952 until 1991. For thirteen years he was the editor of Tradition Magazine, the scholarly quarterly published by the Rabbinical Council of America. He is a former Vice President of the Rabbinical Council of America where he also served as Vice President of its Beis Din (Rabbinical Court).

Ordained by Baltimore’s Ner Israel Rabbinical College, he holds B.S. and M.S. degrees from the Johns Hopkins University and a Ph.D. from Emory University. Rabbi Emanuel Feldman served as Adjunct Professor of Jewish Law at Emory University School of Law, and as Senior Lecturer at Bar Ilan University in Israel.

He has written nine books and over 100 published articles in magazines and newspapers such as Saturday Review, The New Republic, The Jerusalem Post and numerous Anglo-Jewish periodicals here and abroad.

Since his formal retirement from the active pulpit in 1991, Rabbi Emanuel Feldman has been dividing his time between the United States and Jerusalem. In Jerusalem he served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Rashi Translation Project of Jerusalem’s Ariel Research Institute, which has recently published The Ariel Chumash. Presently, he is on the editorial staff of the Encyclopedia of Mitzvot.

Visitor Comments: 21

(21)
Michael Moses,
April 23, 2002 12:00 AM

Small Internal Changes Can Repair The World

It was good to be reinforced by Rabbi Felman's wisdom, once again. I had the zechut to hear him speak a couple of months ago here in Atlanta at Beth Jacob, the shul he led for many years and where his son, Ilan, now leads, spreading the same true messages. The topic of his lecture was "Living Under Seige." We were all eager to hear his report from the "front lines," and none of us imagined that day that things could even get worse, as it now has. At the end of the lecture I asked Rabbi Feldman the question, "We here all seem to be on the same page about valuing Israel as a true gift from G-d. But how we bring along those who are Jewish but do not have a religious background?" His answer was profound and changed my entire point of view all at the same time. "We need to look inwardly to change the situation outwardly. This is how we will truly change the things." He then went on to tell the group the story of a certain tzadik who, in his youth, declared that he wanted to change the world. As he grew older, he concentrated on trying to change his country. Older still, he desired to change his town. In his old age and with the wisdom he had gained in his lifetime, he realized the most profound thing he could do would be to change himself. "If I can only change myself for the better," he declared, "I will be able to change the world." The last thing Am Yisrael needs right now, is any division. What goes with that is philosophical finger pointing, such as my self-righteous question to the Rabbi asking how I could "impove the attitude of others." Later after the lecture, when I thanked Rabbi Feldman for his comments which put things into the proper Jewish perspective, he said yet one more profound thing to me: "When we improve ourselves in little ways, it is like throwing a pebble into a pond. The ripples we make from small acts of tzedekah and chesed affect everyone we come in contact with and have effects on the world, all of which we may never know fully." While our tzorres as a people are great, I and everyone I know senses an unprecedented "togetherness" of all Jews now. You can feel it at Pro-Israel rallies, celebrations for Yom Haatzmaut, and in the air on Shabbos. By continuing to connect to eachother (all Jew of all types) and to Hashem we will hopefully merit the redemption without requiring further sorrowful wake-up calls to align us and the world.

(20)
Robert Craig,
April 23, 2002 12:00 AM

Keep looking up!

"anti-Semitism will cease, because we will then be no different from anyone else." I am not sure this will happen, but God does and will smile on Israel. I have no clue as to why Oslo was ever agreed to. That was wholesale robbery. I look at the map of Israel with complete disbelief - "occupied territories?" It is Israel. You should never submit to those that would trample all over everything you stand for. It angers me when I hear what our press tries to do with their never ending spewing of lies and hate. Keep yourselves safe at all costs!

(19)
Larry Miller,
April 21, 2002 12:00 AM

Rabbi Feldman article

I found the article to be inspiring and informative. Giving much food for thought.

I have read several of Rabbi Feldman's books and found them very interesting and inspiring.

Keep the articles coming!!

(18)
Anonymous,
April 18, 2002 12:00 AM

Thank you. Absolutely spot on. G-d bless Israel.

We just have to keep going. And pray that Hashem will give us all strength and courage. God bless Israel

(17)
David Lewis,
April 17, 2002 12:00 AM

An excellent article,

This article should be sent to mailing list as a call to action, Prayer with kavanah for everyone

(16)
meyer lifschitz,
April 17, 2002 12:00 AM

very well said

Very well said.

(15)
Anonymous,
April 17, 2002 12:00 AM

I am for the Jews

Dear Rabbi Feldman,

When I browse our leading newspapers I’m just wondering why it don’t have any portion expressing goodwill on Israel’s Independence Day as compared to other years. I’m much concerned for the current crisis in Israel especially the foreign media manipulated the news. As I continue to switch on CNN there is an alarming rate of anti-Jewish sentiments across Europe and much of the world. I’m also familiar that Europe was the “graveyard” of Jews for many centuries, it was on this continent that the Jews suffered persecution, false accusation and annihilation. There is a grim scenario if Israel will succumbed to a peacekeeping force offered by Kofi Anan, if that force mainly come from Europe. Would the Jews today shall permits her traditional slaughterer inside their own territory? I believe from the start that the Oslo Agreement is like a Scandinavian fog, it caused much blunder and pressure on Israel,it reduce Israel to a ghetto. The accord permits the PA to armed themselves and build infrastructure of terror. A worse double-cross in history is not a farfetched scenario if Sharon will accept European troops in the name of peacekeeping. In Ezekiel 7:14, it says the trumpet is blown but none goeth to battle because certainly the enemy is inside Israel thus a worse case betrayal can happen.

Jose from the Philippines

(14)
John Davis,
April 16, 2002 12:00 AM

Bless G-d,and keep Israel Whole&Secure.

May Hashem please protect his nation
from those who dare otherwise to harm her. Happy Indepenance Day Yisroel!
I wish I were there in Yerushaliem again
Shalom from Vancouver,WA.USA.

(13)
Tjaart Fourie,
April 16, 2002 12:00 AM

Deepest sympathy with your nation's trauma

I am Christian,member of Christian Action for Israel and ICEJ.Visited Israel 4 times already. Cannot wait for 5 th time.
I would like to express my deepest sympathy for loss of life and injuries sustained in barbaric bombing attacks. my prayers go out to G-d every day for you.
Shalom
Tjaart Fourie

(12)
Anonymous,
April 16, 2002 12:00 AM

Thank you for giving further insight into ou role as Jews today. We must not only stand up for Israel in public, but try to stand up to our own yatzer hara privately. It is our job to work on ourselves, in this way we can change the world. Thank you again for a beautiful article.

Sincerely,
Proud To Be A Jew

(11)
Rex Rambo,
April 16, 2002 12:00 AM

I pledge my private and public support for Israel.

I shall continue my public and private support while Israel is hard pressed. This was a very moving analysisof the situation, and it is correct. Do not despair of good fortunefor I am still with you. Rex

(10)
Anonymous,
April 16, 2002 12:00 AM

Excellent, articulate article

Rabbi Feldman has hit the nail on the head, the message that no one wants to hear: CHANGE! His analysis of the "Twin Towers" of Oslo and secular Zionism was particularly apt.

(9)
betti miner,
April 16, 2002 12:00 AM

birthday of Israel

I was very touched by the various stories that were listed on this website link. I hurt badly when someone dies for Israel. I attended a rally this past Sunday (the 14th), and I felt so proud to be holding the US flag in onehand and the Israeli one in the other. The rally was attended by nearly 5,000people the plaza was packed. I live in San Francisco and the State University here has hate sayings and signs by people who don't want to know whats going on there. I happen to love Israel and will donate to the emergency fund that has been set up for that purpose. I cannot send a lot, but it will be from the heart because I want to see Israel celebrate 54 more years. Happy Birthday dear Israel!!!!! Thanks

(8)
Anonymous,
April 16, 2002 12:00 AM

The stupidity in Oslo Accords

Whoever designed the Oslo Accords forgot one fundemental thing ie it is the lack of free elections that breeds terrorism in the Palestine Territories. Of course they could not have free elections in one go which would be only recommended by people who live in fantasy lands.
But on a step by step basis ie starting with the townships that were transferred onto Palestine Authority.
This is where Arafat fooled everyone! Elections would have paved way for dialogue and some sensibility in politics unlike now where sheer stupidity reigns.

(7)
Nora Nell Holm,
April 16, 2002 12:00 AM

Very True and Touching

I particularly took to heart the part where we were exhorted to be more spiritual in a very personal way and to be kinder to our fellow man, more thoughtful and prayerful.

(6)
,
April 16, 2002 12:00 AM

Zachor et Amalek

In every generation Amalek rises again to attempt to destroy us. When you read the Tehilim you realize that king david was faced with much of the same problems yet he never lost his faith in Hashem.

(5)
david appelrouth,
April 15, 2002 12:00 AM

on the article

Well put. We outside of eretz yisrael also feel the anguish of our brothers and crestfallenly hinge on the dreary broadcasts of the media. Sometimes the antisemetic overtones are more angering than the horrific murders, and more and more we are feeling the birh pangs of mashiach, and the true colors of our'friendly' world community. I long to be with you and and our family in Israel once again, to return to the chibur ha'aretz. If in fact I make it past my parents, and my in-laws, and the inerent fears of my wife, I will be victorious in my struggle to return to the foothills of samaria where the final chapters of history as we know it are unfolding.
warmly,
david appelrouth

(4)
miriam afraimi,
April 15, 2002 12:00 AM

so clear

this essay was so clear to point out all the ironic issues in our world. i feel everyone is confused about the situatiion at hand, but this essay highlights pointsa that we can't forget. we all get goosebumps when we think of the redemption. may we all be on the front lines to see the mashiach coming. amen.

(3)
,
April 15, 2002 12:00 AM

You hit the Oslo Problem right on the head.

Everything is well put. No Jew can afford to ignore the current rise in Jew hatred and its manifestation world-wide. We cannot afford to not change. Change ourselves and try to help Jews around the world. Though its very nice to change ourselves, a practical "solution" must be given for the situation. For Jews in the Exile, RETURN HOME. For Jews in the Jewish Homeland, stay there, kick out the arab enemy (now!). Cling to the mitzvot, and RETURN to the G-d that gave you your homeland.

(2)
Rebecca Lachovitzki,
April 15, 2002 12:00 AM

This site is very moving

I would like to congratulate you on making such a wonderful site that helps all Jewish people around the world to access information about our religion as well asunderstand the situation in Israel. After reading the Yom ha'atzmaut article I felt very moved and I thought that the situation in Israel provides a profound influence upon all Jewish people around the world. Thank you very much for making such an interesting site to enable us to learn about the hate Israel is exposed to just because we are Jewish.

Yours sincerely

Rebecca Lachovitzki

(1)
Anonymous,
April 15, 2002 12:00 AM

A DEEPLY-INSIGHTFUL AND PROPHETIC ARTICLE

A REFRESHINGLY-AUTHENTIC PRESENTATION OF A TRUE JEWISH APPROACH TO LIFE.

I just got married and have an important question: Can we eat rice on Passover? My wife grew up eating it, and I did not. Is this just a matter of family tradition?

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

The Torah instructs a Jew not to eat (or even possess) chametz all seven days of Passover (Exodus 13:3). "Chametz" is defined as any of the five grains (wheat, spelt, barley, oats, and rye) that came into contact with water for more than 18 minutes. Chametz is a serious Torah prohibition, and for that reason we take extra protective measures on Passover to prevent any mistakes.

Hence the category of food called "kitniyot" (sometimes referred to generically as "legumes"). This includes rice, corn, soy beans, string beans, peas, lentils, peanuts, mustard, sesame seeds and poppy seeds. Even though kitniyot cannot technically become chametz, Ashkenazi Jews do not eat them on Passover. Why?

Products of kitniyot often appear like chametz products. For example, it can be hard to distinguish between rice flour (kitniyot) and wheat flour (chametz). Also, chametz grains may become inadvertently mixed together with kitniyot. Therefore, to prevent confusion, all kitniyot were prohibited.

In Jewish law, there is one important distinction between chametz and kitniyot. During Passover, it is forbidden to even have chametz in one's possession (hence the custom of "selling chametz"). Whereas it is permitted to own kitniyot during Passover and even to use it - not for eating - but for things like baby powder which contains cornstarch. Similarly, someone who is sick is allowed to take medicine containing kitniyot.

What about derivatives of kitniyot - e.g. corn oil, peanut oil, etc? This is a difference of opinion. Many will use kitniyot-based oils on Passover, while others are strict and only use olive or walnut oil.

Finally, there is one product called "quinoa" (pronounced "ken-wah" or "kin-o-ah") that is permitted on Passover even for Ashkenazim. Although it resembles a grain, it is technically a grass, and was never included in the prohibition against kitniyot. It is prepared like rice and has a very high protein content. (It's excellent in "cholent" stew!) In the United States and elsewhere, mainstream kosher supervision agencies certify it "Kosher for Passover" -- look for the label.

Interestingly, the Sefardi Jewish community does not have a prohibition against kitniyot. This creates the strange situation, for example, where one family could be eating rice on Passover - when their neighbors will not. So am I going to guess here that you are Ashkenazi and your wife is Sefardi. Am I right?

Yahrtzeit of Rabbi Moses ben Nachman (1194-1270), known as Nachmanides, and by the acronym of his name, Ramban. Born in Spain, he was a physician by trade, but was best-known for authoring brilliant commentaries on the Bible, Talmud, and philosophy. In 1263, King James of Spain authorized a disputation (religious debate) between Nachmanides and a Jewish convert to Christianity, Pablo Christiani. Nachmanides reluctantly agreed to take part, only after being assured by the king that he would have full freedom of expression. Nachmanides won the debate, which earned the king's respect and a prize of 300 gold coins. But this incensed the Church: Nachmanides was charged with blasphemy and he was forced to flee Spain. So at age 72, Nachmanides moved to Jerusalem. He was struck by the desolation in the Holy City -- there were so few Jews that he could not even find a minyan to pray. Nachmanides immediately set about rebuilding the Jewish community. The Ramban Synagogue stands today in Jerusalem's Old City, a living testimony to his efforts.

It's easy to be intimidated by mean people. See through their mask. Underneath is an insecure and unhappy person. They are alienated from others because they are alienated from themselves.

Have compassion for them. Not pity, not condemning, not fear, but compassion. Feel for their suffering. Identify with their core humanity. You might be able to influence them for the good. You might not. Either way your compassion frees you from their destructiveness. And if you would like to help them change, compassion gives you a chance to succeed.

It is the nature of a person to be influenced by his fellows and comrades (Rambam, Hil. De'os 6:1).

We can never escape the influence of our environment. Our life-style impacts upon us and, as if by osmosis, penetrates our skin and becomes part of us.

Our environment today is thoroughly computerized. Computer intelligence is no longer a science-fiction fantasy, but an everyday occurrence. Some computers can even carry out complete interviews. The computer asks questions, receives answers, interprets these answers, and uses its newly acquired information to ask new questions.

Still, while computers may be able to think, they cannot feel. The uniqueness of human beings is therefore no longer in their intellect, but in their emotions.

We must be extremely careful not to allow ourselves to become human computers that are devoid of feelings. Our culture is in danger of losing this essential aspect of humanity, remaining only with intellect. Because we communicate so much with unfeeling computers, we are in danger of becoming disconnected from our own feelings and oblivious to the feelings of others.

As we check in at our jobs, and the computer on our desk greets us with, "Good morning, Mr. Smith. Today is Wednesday, and here is the agenda for today," let us remember that this machine may indeed be brilliant, but it cannot laugh or cry. It cannot be happy if we succeed, or sad if we fail.

Today I shall...

try to remain a human being in every way - by keeping in touch with my own feelings and being sensitive to the feelings of others.

With stories and insights,
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